Node.js

Node.js

Node.js enables JavaScript to run on the server, creating a unified language across the full stack.

Core Concepts

Event Loop

Understanding the event loop is crucial for writing efficient Node.js applications. Node.js is single-threaded but handles concurrency through asynchronous operations.

Modules

Node.js uses CommonJS modules by default, but modern versions support ES modules as well.

Express

The most popular Node.js web framework, known for its simplicity and flexibility.

Fastify

A faster alternative to Express with built-in schema validation.

NestJS

An opinionated framework that brings structure and TypeScript support to Node.js applications.

Best Practices

  • Use environment variables for configuration
  • Implement proper error handling
  • Use async/await instead of callbacks
  • Monitor performance with tools like PM2
  • Implement rate limiting and security headers

Database Integration

  • PostgreSQL with node-postgres or Prisma
  • MongoDB with Mongoose
  • Redis for caching and sessions ```